Chair structure



28, 1956 B- w. HENRIKSON ET AL 2,760,561

CHAIR STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed May 14, 1955 INVENTOR" 511; W zlm 'e'kdwi ATTORNEY 8, 1956 B. w HENRIKSON ET AL 2,760,561

CHAIR STRUCTURE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 14, 1955 WITNESS CHAIR STRUCTURE Bror W. Henrikson, Alfred C. Hoven, Walter E. Nordmark, and Benjamin J. m, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Micln, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 17, 1955, Serial No. 516,172 '2 Claims. (Cl. 155-179) The present invention relates to chair structures and more particularly to chair back construction. This application is a division of our co-pending application Serial No. 354,938 filed May 14, 1953.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an improved back construction for chairs of the reclining type commonly installed in motorbusses, railway cars, airplanes and other vehicles; to provide a chair back from which the covers may readily be removed for cleaning; and in general to provide such a chair back construction which is sturdy, comfortable, lightweight, attractive in appearance and reasonably economical in manufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a reclining chair structure installed in a vehicle and provided with individual seats and backs for two passengers, mounted on a common supporting frame;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of a chair back of the structure, shown per se with portions thereof broken away; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of said chair back taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring now in detail to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the chair structure there shown generally comprises a supporting frame on which two individual chairs each having a seat and back 16 are mounted for inde pendent reclining movements. The supporting frame comprises a wall standard 17 which is secured to the side wall 18 of the vehicle in which the structure is installed and which rests on a shoulder 19 of said side wall, an end standard 20 disposed at the aisle side of the chair structure, front and rear horizontally disposed tubular supporting bars 21 and 22 respectively, and a tubular center brace 23 extending rearwardly from the front bar 21 to the rear bar 22 and thence upwardly (see Figure 1). These parts of the supporting frame are all secured together as by means of welding.

The chair backs 16 are pivotally mounted on horizontally aligned bearing studs 24 secured to the wall standard 17, the end standard 20 and the upper end of the center brace 23. Referring now particularly to Figures 3 and 4, each chair back is built upon a generally rectangular tubular metal frame consisting of an inverted U-shaped tubular frame member 25. The lower ends of the legs of said member 25 are flattened as at 26 and provided with socket bearing members 27 which receive the studs 24 for pivotally mounting the chair backs on the supporting frame.

Below the socket bearing members 27 the flattened lower ends of the frame member 25 are connected by a horizontal rod, tube or bar 28 welded thereto. Each chair backs frame member 25 has a further downward extension 29 at that side of the back nearest a standard 17 and 20, which extension 29 is pivotally connected to a recliner latch mechanism one of which is generally designated 30 and shown somewhat diagrammatically in dotted lines in Figure l. The latch mechanism for each chair back is housed in the adjacent standard 17 or 20 and serves to secure the back in selected reclined position. However, inasmuch as the specific form of latch mechanism is not a part of the present invention, it is not shown nor described herein in specific detail.

Referring again to Figures 3 and 4, each chair back 16 has a sheet of expanded metal 31 secured to and enclosed by the tubular rectangular frame of the back, said sheet 31 being secured as by welding to the frames members 25 and 28. Sheets 32 and 33 of heavy cardboard are secured by suitable adhesives to the front and rear surfaces respectively of the metal sheet 31. A foam rubber cushion 34 is disposed over the front surface of the sheet 32 and secured thereto, and a pre-sewn upholstery cover 35 in the form of an envelope is then applied over this entire assembly. A slide fastener 36 closes the mouth of the upholstery envelope at the bottom of the back, and it will be seen that this upholstery cover can easily be removed for cleaning. The resulting chair back is thus convenient in use, light in weight and attractive in appearance.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details thereof may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A chair back comprising: a generally rectangular tubular frame; a sheet of expanded metal secured to and enclosed by said frame; a foam rubber cushion disposed over the front surface of the expanded metal sheet and the frame and secured thereto; an envelope of upholstery material enclosing the frame, the expanded metal and the foam rubber cushion; and means for opening and closing the mouth of said envelope.

2. A chair back comprising: a generally rectangular tubular frame; a sheet of expanded metal secured to and enclosed by said frame; a foam rubber cushion disposed over the front surface of the expanded metal sheet and the frame and secured thereto; an envelope of upholstery material enclosing the frame, the expanded metal and the foam rubber cushion; and a slide fastener for opening and closing the mouth of said envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 894,020 Levick July 21, 1908 1,205,541 Hoehn Nov. 21, 1916 1,400,717 Benson et a1. Dec. 20, 1921 2,021,825 Ackerman Nov. 19, 1935 2,108,242 Wallace Feb. 15, 1938 2,208,745 Bloomberg July 23, 1940 2,231,346 Riesing Feb. 11, 1941 2,251,318 Blair Aug. 5, 1941 2,612,938 Dawkins et al Oct. 7, 1952 2,646,840 Good July 28, 1953 

